- Muslim Aid
-
Muslim Aid 
Type Charity Founded November, 1985 Location United Kingdom Key people Iqbal Sacranie (Chairman), Muhammad Abdul Bari (Trustee), Syed Sharfuddin (CEO), Dr Mohammed Jafer Qureshi (Trustee) Area served Indonesia, Sudan, Iraq, Bangladesh, Somalia and others Focus Healthcare, education, Disaster & Emergency, Shelter & Construction, Economic empowerment, Income generation, Child sponsorship Revenue £44 million (2010) Motto "Serving Humanity" Website www.muslimaid.org Muslim Aid is a UK based international relief and development organisation working to alleviate poverty worldwide. The charity says it believes in sustainable, local and practical solutions to empower individuals and strengthen communities. [1]
According to the Muslim Aid website they work across Africa, Asia, Europe and strive to help the poor overcome the suffering endured due to natural disasters and lack of life's basic necessities.[2]
Muslim Aid is guided by the teachings of Islam and endeavors to tackle poverty and its causes by developing innovative and sustainable solutions that enable individuals and their communities to live with dignity and by supporting initiatives that promote economic and social justice. Muslim Aid work with all in need, regardless of their race, religion, gender, nationality or political opinion. [3]
Contents
History and beginnings
Muslim Aid was founded in 1985 when leading British Muslim organisations joined together to respond to endemic humanitarian crises in Africa. The following year, conflicts in Afghanistan and Palestine and floods in Bangladesh saw Muslim Aid expand its emergency relief operations. Over the past 25 years Muslim Aid has grown from a small office in London to a leading UK NGO, providing relief and development programmes in over 70 countries across the globe. [4]
Muslim Aid has since tried to ensure that it would strive to serve the whole of humanity in keeping with the principles of Islam. By 1989 Muslim Aid’s operations had expanded considerably and over £1 million of emergency aid had been distributed throughout Africa, Asia and Europe. As the charity grew, the scope of its work expanded. [5]
Whilst continuing to fulfill its commitment to emergency relief work Muslim Aid also began to implement long-term development programmes. Today, Muslim Aid is tackling the root causes of poverty through education and skills training, economic empowerment, orphan care, women development, water, healthcare and shelter and construction programmes. [6]
Muslim Aid believes that in order to really help people, the causes, not just the symptoms of poverty must be addressed. By 1994 long-term development projects accounted for almost 50% of Muslim Aid’s relief activity. As well as helping people overcome crises Muslim Aid provides skills and resources to assist people to move forward to a better life. [7] Muslim Aid works closely with the communities to deliver its programmes and remains committed to working in collaboration with all its beneficiaries to ensure that the solutions are not imposed from the outside. All solutions are culturally sensitive, practical and owned by the beneficiaries. [8]
Field offices
They have field offices in 13 countries namely, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Cambodia, The Gambia, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan. [9]
Recent work
It has carried out its work in areas such as Indonesia, following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake (tsunami) and then the two earthquakes in Java, one in May 2006, the other in July that year. [10] It also worked in Bosnia following the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s. [11] It worked in Pakistan following the 2005 Kashmir earthquake to build seismically-resistant sustainable housing in conjunction with UK architectural charity Article 25, and has continuously worked in the Palestinian territories, as well as Darfur, Eritrea, Afghanistan, Lebanon, India and Bangladesh. It also worked in China following the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.
In 2010 Muslim Aid responded to the destructive earthquake in Haiti and the devastating floods in Pakistan. It raised nearly £600,000 and £3 million respectively to help those who afflicted by the disasters. It is continuing its reconstruction work in these countries ensuring long-term prosperity of those living there. [12]
Muslim Aid's 25th anniversary
In 2010 Muslim Aid celebrated 25 years since it began its work. The year was marked with events and initiatives to highlight its achievements and plot its future course. [13]
The year was headlined by the 25th Anniversary Dinner held at the Natural History Museum in March 2010. Over 600 guests attended Muslim Aid’s 25th Anniversary event. Speeches were given by Northern Ireland Secretary, Shaun Woodward MP; Shadow International Development Secretary, Andrew Mitchell MP; Shadow Foreign Secretary Edward Davey, MP and Sir Iqbal Sacranie, Chairman of Muslim Aid. [14]
Government Minister the Rt. Hon. Sadiq Khan MP, Minster of State for Transport also delivered a speech and was joined by distinguished guests from the media, diplomatic community, political, development and community organisations. [15]
References
- ^ Muslim Aid Souvenir Brochure, (2010) Published by Muslim Aid, London
- ^ http://www.muslimaid.org/index.php/what-we-do/where-we-work
- ^ Muslim Aid Souvenir Brochure, (2010) Published by Muslim Aid, London
- ^ Emel Muslim lifestyle magazine (April 2010), London P.32
- ^ Emel Muslim lifestyle magazine (April 2010), London P.32
- ^ Emel Muslim lifestyle magazine (April 2010), London P.33
- ^ Emel Muslim lifestyle magazine (April 2010), London P.34
- ^ Emel Muslim lifestyle magazine (April 2010), London P.35
- ^ http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/SHOWCHARITY/RegisterOfCharities/CharityWithPartB.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=295224&SubsidiaryNumber=0
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4131881.stm
- ^ http://ukinbih.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=213988682
- ^ http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/news/news.php?article=18923
- ^ http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/paper/index.php?article=4625
- ^ http://www.muslimaid.org/index.php/media-centre/25th-anniversary
- ^ http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/paper/index.php?article=4625
External links
Categories:- 1985 establishments
- Organizations established in 1985
- Development charities based in the United Kingdom
- Religious charities based in the United Kingdom
- International charities
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
